If you use Chrome on Windows, Mac, or Linux, install this new update

Google recently released a new Chrome security update for desktop users, and it’s one you’ll want to install as soon as it reaches your device. The latest Stable release fixes 18 security vulnerabilities, including four that Google has rated as critical.

The update bumps Chrome to version 149.0.7827.196/197 on Windows and Mac, and 149.0.7827.196 on Linux. Google says the rollout will happen over the coming days and weeks, so it may not appear immediately for everyone.

Unlike the ongoing Chrome 150 rollout, this release is focused entirely on security. As we reported earlier, Chrome 150 is already widely available on iOS, while the desktop and Android versions are still being released gradually. This latest update is separate and is intended to patch vulnerabilities in the current stable branch.

Among the most serious issues are two use-after-free vulnerabilities in WebGL, an out-of-bounds read in Blink’s InterestGroups component, and another use-after-free flaw in Autofill. Google has also fixed 14 high-severity vulnerabilities affecting several parts of the browser, including GPU, Blink, DevTools, Navigation, Passwords, Bluetooth, FileSystem, Web Authentication, WebView, and Digital Credentials.

Most of the bugs were discovered by Google’s own security teams, although one of the critical WebGL vulnerabilities was reported by an anonymous researcher earlier this month.

Google is once again restricting access to bug details until the update reaches a larger share of users. The company regularly follows this practice to reduce the risk of attackers developing exploits before most Chrome installations have been patched.

This is also the second major Chrome security update the company has shipped in June. Just last week, Google released another security update that fixed seven critical vulnerabilities along with several other high-severity flaws across the browser.

If you haven’t received the update yet, you can check manually by opening Settings > About Chrome. Chrome will automatically look for the latest version and prompt you to relaunch the browser once the update has been installed.

With four critical vulnerabilities and another 14 high-severity issues patched in this release, it’s worth updating as soon as the new version becomes available on your system.

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